Topshop death: Police probe continues after boy, 10, killed by falling display barrier in Reading

Tragedy: The scene outside Topshop in the Oracle shopping centre
PA
Mark Chandler14 February 2017

A 10-year-old boy who died at a Topshop store serious head injuries when a store display barrier fell on him, police have revealed.

He was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after the incident in the Oracle shopping centre at 4.15pm on Monday, but was pronounced dead.

The boy, from the Reading area, has not been named and the coroner's office in the town said an inquest had not yet been opened as police were still investigating.

The store remained closed on Tuesday as police investigations continued. A health and safety probe was also being carried out by the council.

Thames Valley Police said the boy's death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

In a statement on Tuesday the force said the child "suffered serious head injuries after an incident involving a store display barrier".

Emergency: The boy was pronounced dead in hospital
@JOEaRKay/Twitter

Detective Superintendent Paul Hayles said: "We are supporting the boy's family to assist them at this very difficult time.

"We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this death.

"A scene watch is in place at the Topshop store and is likely to be in place for some time.

"Detectives are now working with the local authority and the store owners to gather all of the information on how this incident happened."

On Tuesday, police staff could be seen inside the shop through the door.

Bunches of flowers were left against the shop's closed shutters and shoppers paused to look at the tributes.

One card, which was unsigned, read: "RIP little man."

Reading Borough Council said: "As the enforcing authority for health and safety within retail premises, we will be working closely with the police, who are at present leading on the investigation."

The tragedy comes after a four-year-old boy was killed when an 18-stone mirror crushed him in a shop changing room at Bicester Village in Oxfordshire in June 2013.

Austen Harrison died from severe head injuries when the 7ft mirror, which had been left standing free rather than being attached to a wall, toppled on to him at a Hugo Boss pop-up store.

An inquest concluded the mirror should have been fixed to a reinforced wall, and coroner Darren Salter called the incident "an accident waiting to happen".

The designer brand was fined £1.2 million after admitting breaching health and safety regulations.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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